Embracing charter schools as educational option

Does the Golden State consider school choice a priority? Over the next decade, changes in the state’s reform of funding and facility legislation will answer this question. Recent stories in U-T San Diego and the latest news release from the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) detail more than 500,000 charter school students currently enrolled statewide, with 50,000 additional students remaining on waiting lists.

Public charter schools have a distinct business model, defined by state law, requiring them to address a particular need in a community. They must produce thriving academic results while focusing on a specific mission with students. As defined by the Charter School Act of 1992, charter schools are held to a higher standard than traditional public schools by having greater accountability for student academic outcomes and how the school spends its assigned public revenue. Since 2008, 105 public charter schools closed based on low student performance or the school’s inability to successfully manage its finances. CCSA has led the nation with accountability measures that compel charter schools to perform well, have sound business practices, and create notable value to the educational landscape of their community. When they do not achieve these goals, they are encouraged to close. This review process shines a light on schools not performing well and ensures that either the school in crisis will receive needed support toward success or is appropriately targeted for closure to protect public resources.

Families today are embracing the educational options available. It is not unusual for families to have siblings attending different school types. In some cases, families have placed one student in a traditional public school, one in a public charter school, and one in a private school. Dinner conversations are certainly different today than they were a decade ago. Parents are able to make personalized decisions about their children’s education. This trend seems to serve the school districts, families and students well. The waiting lists for public charter schools will continue to grow as word spreads.

Additionally, public charter schools are able to uniquely meet the individual needs of students requiring special education services and support. The increasing field of options available to students with special needs in charter environments is resulting in better outcomes for students and promises to make further progress. To assist this growth, California is in need of special education funding reform to ensure the ongoing transformation.

With San Diego County leading the state with the highest number of public charter schools (119) and California leading the nation (1,130), it is clear that a spark of innovation has been lit by the Charter School Act of 1992. A movement that is student-centered, parent-focused, and community-based has created high expectations for public education to be progressive, relevant, and meaningful for each and every student attending.

Since the inception of public charter schools more than two decades ago, the number of critics and supporters has only occasionally been balanced. There are challenges in all corners and there is little value in throwing stones to make one model, program, or school district look better than another. Creating and sustaining great public schools is not exclusive to one model or format. It is important to remember it is often a combination of programming ideas that leads to true innovation.